Acts Bible Study: 27:1-19

Acts 27:1–19 (NASB)

1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. 14 But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

Any Initial thoughts or comments?

Any questions before we break this all down?

Setting Sail for Rome: (v. 1-2)

1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica.

This ship had Paul, Aristarchus, Luke, a centurion named Julius, who was likely accompanied by his cohort (40 soldiers), and some other prisoners.

We know Luke was there because of the “we” in (v. 2).

Acts 19:29 (NASB)

29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

This wasn’t a military ship, it was a merchant ship, based on the name, “Adramyttian ship”, commissioned by the Romans to transport prisoners while they were shipping cargo from one port to the next.

1st Century Merchant cargo ships varied in size. It wasn’t a very big ship but it carried all the people we mentioned plus the captain, crew and some cargo.

A Rough Ride in Raging Seas: (v. 3-8)

3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

A ship of this size could hold a large number of people plus cargo (Acts 27:27 276 people). Alexandrian ships were the largest of the merchant ships in the 1st century. They were usually betwen 150-180 feet long with a beam or width of 40-50 feet and cargo hold below deck, or depth, of the same 40-50 feet. They were typically grain haulers and would travel between Egypt and Italy, specifically, Alexandria to Rome. They could carry between 500 and 1,500 tons of grain and other cargo.

Look at the map:

POINT 1: Paul made much of this same journey as a missionary. Now he makes it as a prisoner. (Acts 20-21, v. 6 starts with them setting sail from Philippi.)

The normal travel time by ship in the first century was about 65 miles a day.

In favorable winds you could go up to 90 miles in a day.

In slower less favorable winds it was usually no more than 40-50 miles in day.

From Caesarea to Sidon was a little less 70 miles by sea. They made that trip in a day (v. 3). It means they had a pretty favorable wind.

From Sidon to Myra, the route they took around Cyprus, was a little over 400 miles. We know they has an unfavorable wind (v. 4, “the wind was contrary) and it would have taken them a while. Most historians say that route is a 10-14 day journey for first century merchant ships.

In Myra they went from a small 50-60 foot long merchant ship to a massive 180 foot long Alexandrian cargo ship. The boats carried much more weight but also had three sails and traveled a little bit faster. From Myra to Cnidus is 130 miles. Usually with normal wind and weather conditions, an Alexandrian ship could make that drip in a single day but Luke says in (v. 7) that it took “a good many days”.

***QUESTION*** Why was the Alexandrian ship in Myra when it was supposed to be going to Alexandrian (Egypt) to Rome (Italy)? [MAP]

6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.

A strong “contrary” westerly wind is what caused them to be there. That’s not odd, that’s God.

From Cnidus to Crete is about 200 miles and Crete is 180 miles wide. They ironically port at a place called “Fair Havens”, about 90 miles along the coast of Crete.

***QUESTION***

Why do you think Luke is giving us all these details about this trip? It is such a detailed description of a voyage. We know Luke loved details, but these details seem unimportant, unless, they are pointing us to some greater truth we need to grasp or remember. And I think that is what they are doing...

Remember who wrote Acts. It was Luke. And Acts is really just the second half of the book of Luke. It is two separate things but Luke is telling one story. And if we go to the book of Luke we see that point Luke is making:

Luke 8:24–25 (NASB)

24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

I believe it is clear, that Luke is saying that due to the wind and the water conditions, Jesus is in control of what is happening on this voyage, and Luke is making it clear that God put these people on those ships at that time and and pushed them with His wind and His waves to that exact place where they were for a very specific reason. Not only did Jesus tell Paul he was going to be a witness for Him in Rome...

Acts 23:11 (NASB)

11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Our next section gives us another reason...

God’s Witness Gives a Wise Warning: (v. 9-12)

9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

In (v. 10) Paul gives them advice, I believe, as the text would indicate, was wisdom from the Lord. They ignored this advice, what Paul’s words will do in retrospect, is show the people on that ship that there is something about him that is different. And that will come into play later in Acts 27 and Acts 28.

A few observations from here though...

Experts are not always right. (v 11)

Going with the majority doesn’t make something right either. (v. 12b)

Logic and reason might make sense but it isn’t flawless and. (v. 12a/c)

Proverbs 16:18 (NASB)

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

1 Corinthians 3:18–21 (NASB)

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men...

Relying on Self Leads to More Rough Sailing: (v. 13-20)

13 When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. 14 But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.

Again, on the surface, observation, wisdom and logic…maybe even their superstition, had almost everyone believing that the time was right to set sail. (v. 13).

But, just when it looked like Paul was wrong, they were proven that his advice was more wise than their own. (v. 14)

Luke says that a violent wind called “Euraquilo” came upon them.

Euraquilo: The Holman Bible Dictionary says that it is a violent wind accompanied by a storm, much like a hurricane.

The KJV transliterates the word and there is is Euroclydon.

The NIV translates it “northeaster”.

The word Euraquilo is a combination of two words. The Greek word Euros, meaning East and the Latin word Aquilo, meaning “wind from the North”.

According to Ptolemy, this particular wind pattern came from the Northeast in the late fall or early winter and caused violent and cyclonic storms. It was the worst in the Mediterranean Sea and would be most fierce around the islands in the area.

The Euraquilo was the worst fear of Mediterranena sailors.

Luke is telling us that this is the worst case scenario .

Yet Paul could have hope:

Psalm 42:5 (NASB)

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.

Everything the Romans and Sailors were hoping in were useless in the midst or the Euraquilo.

(v. 18-19) 18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.

1 Timothy 6:17 (NASB)

17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

Hebrews 10:23 (NASB)

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;